Switch for electric-lighting systems.



PENNSYLVANIA.

side and tail lamps thereof, and, as hereinafter described, theprincipal feature of the invention is an automatically controlled switchfor a generator which is arranged to be driven by the running geanof thevehicle whereby said generator is included in the lighting circuit onlywhen the automobile is going from ten to twenty-five miles an hour. Saidcircuit 'includes a storage battery in which the surplus, enrgyof thegenerator is stored-fand which 4serves to maintain. said lights when thegenerator is rendered inoperative by said switch. As hereinafterdescribed the specific form of switch which is automatically operated asabove contemplated includes centrifugal members which arecarried by thegeneratorarmature shaft 1n operative connectionwith a cam on said .shaftso as to shift said cam axially to and from position to encounter. alever which is operatively` connected with the switch mechanism.. I

My invention includes the various novel features of, construction andarrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In thg drawings ;.Figure I is a diagram of an electric lighting systemfor an automobile, conveniently embodying my invention. Fig. vII yisaflongitudinal sectional view of the generator and automatic switchmechanism indicated in Fig. I. Fig:` III is a left hand end view vof themechanism shown in Fig. Il, with the switch cover removed.

Referring to Fig. 1;'1 indicates an automobile having a variable speedmotor 2 by which it is propelled and a pair of head lamps 4, a pairof-side lamps 5.and a tail lampv 6 in circuit with the storage battery 8andvelectric generator 9; said generator being operatively connectedwith said motor 2. Said generator is connected with said cir- I cuit bythree conductors 11, 12 and 13. 'Said conductor 11 has three'branches15, 16 and 1'7 respectively leading to the head lamps 4,

the side lamps v5 and the tail lamp 6 through switches 19, 20 and 21which are conven- Specifcation of Letters Patent.

raaaNr critica THOMAS SPENCER, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NORT0 HELIOS MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ACORPORATION GF SWITCH FOR ELECTRIC-LIGHTING SYSTEMS.

Patented ,nuff c, asia.

Application filed January 17, 1913. Serial N. 742,549.

iently mounted on the switch board 22. Said conductor l2 extends to thepositive pole of said battery 8, and'said conductor 13 has branches'24a'nd 25 respectively leading to the negative pole of said battery and tothe common return conductor 27 of said lamps. Said generator 9 includesthe field magnets 29, the shunt and series field coils 30 and 3l,.tl1earmature 32 having the shaft 33, and, the commutator and brushes 36 and37, and may be'operatively connected with said variable speed motor 2 byany suitable means, conveniently by a chain belt engaging the sprocketwheel 40 on said armature shaft 33, so as to rotate the ylatter in thedirection of the arrows shown in F igs; I and II during the forwardmovement of the automobile. Said armature shaft 33 is journaled in theball bearings 41 andv 42 respectively in the generator frame plates 45and 46 and is prevented from moving axially by engagement of theshoulders 48 and 49, on

said shaft, with the respective b earing plates 51 and 52 in said frameplates 45 and 46. Said shaft 33 carries the yoke 55 which has the pivotbearings 56 carrying'the centrifugal members including the weighted arms57 provided with the spring pins 58 connected by the springs 60 whichtend to retract said members to the position shown inFig. II. Saidmembers also include Nthe arms 61 which are pivotally connected with thesleeve 62 which is fitted to slide axially on said shaft 33 and carriesthe cam 64. It is to be understood that the arrangement is such thatsaid cam is shifted axially on said shaft 33 in accordance with thespeed of rotation of the latter. In accordance with the rate of rotationof said armature shaft 33, said cam 64 is` presented in operativerelation with the cam lever 66, so as to encounterthe tappet arm 67 ofsaid lever at low speeds, the

central'tappet arm 68 at speeds` between 10 and 25 miles per hour andthe tappet arm 67' at speeds-exceeding 25 milesper hour for instance.Tappet arms 67 and 67 are spaced apart but located on the same side of,and at the same distance from, the -fulc'rum 70 of the cam lever 66. Thetappet arm 68 register with and connect stationary spring contacts uponrespectively, opposite sides thereof. shown -in Fig. III.

The connection of the exterior binding posts 77, 7S and Si with thestationary switch contacts 80, S1, 8:2, 7l and 75 are immaterial as faras this invention is con- 'cerned, as I claim the switch structure inthiscase. It may be said however, that when the switch blade 72 connectsthe contacts Tland 7 5, thegenerator is disconnected and the seriesfield short circuited, and

l when in the other position, the generator is connected in circuit,with its series and shunt fields inoperative position.- IVhen the caniGI engages either tappet arm 6T or 67, the contacts 7l and 75 areconnected by the contact arm 7:2; the generator and series field arethen disconnected and the battery only is connected to the lightingcircuit. However, when said cain (Si. encouu ters the tappet arm 68 androckssa'id cani vlever to the other extreme position, said contact arm72 connects the -threestationary spring contacts 80, 81 and S2 toconnect the generator in operative relation with the lanipcircuit andstorage. battery. In order that said cam lever 66 may 'be held againstaccidental displacement from either of its extreme positionsto which itis automati- .cally shifted byf the cam 64, said lever is provided withthe deteiit roller 86, and the s )rin detent 87 is adapted to bealternately in Fig. III.v All of the automatic switch mechanism abovedescribedis conveniently iiiclosed by the removable cover 93 as' shownin Fig. II. y It is to be understood that the, precise position in whichthe cani 64: shall be presented during the rotation of the armatureshaft at any given rate maybe determined by adjustment of the tension ofsaid springs f 69, and, that said lamps 4, o and 6 may be respectivelylighted or extinguished by the switches 19, Q0 and QL whether thecircuit is energized directly by the generator 9 or by thestoragebattery 8. Y

It may be observed that the construction and arrangement abovedescribedA issuch that said generator 9 is included in the lightingcircuit when the automobile is going from vten to twentyfive miles anhour and is excluded froml the 'lighting circuit when said automobile isgoing less than ten,

and more than twenty-five, miles an hour. 'However, it may be adjustedto a different range of speed. f

I do not desire to .limit' myself to the pre.- cise details ofconstruction and arrangement herein set forth as it isobv-ious thatvarious modifications may be made therein without departing from theessential'features of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim l. In a generator switch, a rotating shaft` a pivoted memberhaving an arm on eachl side of the pivot point. two spaced tappet lugson one arm, and a-third t-appet lug on the other arm, saidfthree lugsbeing respectively in dierent planes perpendirglar to said shaft, arotatable cani meiiibe`r,iand means sensitive to changes in speed ofsaid shaft to cause relative longitudinal movement: between the cani andsaid member whereby the cam may engage the lugs and turn the memberabout its pivot point.

2. In a generator switch, arotating armature shaft, a pivoting memberhaving an arm on each side of its pivot. point, a switch' blade. securedto said member, two spaced tappet lugs on one arm, a third tappet lug onthe other arm, said three lugs, being respectively spaced in differentplanesperpendilcular to said shaft, a cani member` adapted to slidelongitudinally ofthe armature shaft, but to rotate therewith, and meanssensitive to changes in speed of said armature shaft to longitudinally.move said cam to engage the lugs successively and op-,f erate saidswitch first in one direction and then in the 'other at predeterminedspeedvalues.

3. In a vgenerator switch, a rotating armaturevshaft, a pivoted memberhaving an' arm on each side of its pivot point, a switch blade connectedtherewith, switch clipsl on each side of said blade. two spaced ta'lppetlugs on one arm and a third .tappet lug on the other arm, said threelugs being respectively7 spaced in different planes perpendicular tosaidshaft, a cani member adapted to slide longitudinally of the armatureshaft. means to cause it to rotate therewith. bell crank leversconnected tothe armature shaft having a weight. on one of their leverarms,

' and theiry other lever arms connected to said cam whereby the cam ismoved longitudinally intosaid three planes as the armature speedchanges.

.In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my 'name at Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, this sixteenth day of January, 1913.

THOMAS srnivo'iiiz..

iitnesses GEORGE Ur'rox, ARTHUR E. Parcs.

